Treatment of leather for waterproofing the same and rendering it non-slipping.



-- 1 STATES PATENT o F -v ALEXANDER MCLENNAN, OF ROSS HEREFORD, ENGLAND.

TREATMENT OF LEATHER EOE WATERPROOFING THE SAME AND RENDERING I'I NON- Patented Au 17, 1915.

SLIPBING.

L150 94'1 Specification of Letters Patent.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER MoLnN- NAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Ross Hereford, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to the Treatment of Leather for lvaterproofing the Same and Rendering it Non slipping, of which the following is a specification.

'lhis invention relates to improvements in the treatment of leather with india rubber, and it has for its primary object to increase the damp resisting properties of such leather.

The invention has for its further object to treat the leather with a view to avoiding the slipping which is incidental to leather,

when same is brought into contact with a damp or greasy surface.-

The treatment in accordance with the present invention may conveniently be combined with the process forming the subject of New Zcaland Patent No. 27517-10 but I do not, however, desire to limit its application to such process, as it may in practice be found that a considerable advantage may accrue from its employment generally in combination with other processes in which the leather is treated to secure its permeation with a rubber solution.

I am aware that it has already been proposed to impregnate skins and strings of musical instruments with collodion, gutta percha, india rubber or other similar gum in suitable solvents in order to render the said skins and strings lesssusceptible to atmospheric changes.

Now according to the present invention in order to increase the Water and damp resisting properties of the leather I add to the rubber solution, with which, assuming the process employed be that according to the aforementioned Letters Patent, the leather is finally drummed, a solution of celluloid in acetone or any other Suitable solvent or solvents. The addition to the rubber solution is preferably effected after the drum ming process has been in operation for some time. Further in order that the slippery condition of the leather upon a damp. or greasy surface may be avoided I add to the rubber solution the following substances gum juniper, ether, resin, preferably that known as amber resin and benZol.

I have found that in order to secure the Application filed August. 26, 1913. Serial No. 786,674.

eflective permeation of the leather it is necessary that the resins employed should be as free from impurities as is possible, otherwise the impurities thereon will stop the pores of the leather so that the liquid cannot enter the same, and saturation of the leather will not be obtained. At the same time it is desirable that one of the resins employed should possess a permanently sticky nature, which is found in gum juniper, so called, and which sticky character is present even when the solution is in the leather. As the use of gum juniper alone would, in practice, in view of the cost of this, be found to be commercially impossible, I prefer to combine with it another resin which, while being readily obtainable, and comparatively inexpensive, is, at the same time sufliciently pure to render it lit for the purposes of this invention. This resin is that known as amber resin.

In practice I find best quality benzol to be the most efficient solvent, but as it is comparatively a costly ingredient, I prefer for commercial reasons to employ a certain quantity of a cheaper solvent, for example, a lower grade benzol or naphtha, in which case the proportion of best quality benzol and naphtha or lower grade benzol may be equal, or they may be varied as may be found in practice to be most desirable.

In practice I have found that very good results are obtained if both the celluloid and the other substances are added during the final drumming as described in the aforementioned specification of Letters Patent 27517/1910. Thus in practice, assuming that from 15 to 20 hides of average weight are being drummed, I add, after the drumming has been in progress for some time, a solution composed ofcelluloid dissolved in acetone. After this I add at suitable intervals gum juniper dissolved in ether (methyl) amber resin dissolved in benzol and about an equal quantity of naphtha or lower grade benzol.

The rubber solution just referred to as employed in the aforesaid drumming operation is composed of 5 lbs. fine hard Para rubber dissolved in 6 gallons naphtha and 10 gallons of benzine. These quantities as also those given hereafter will of course be dependent upon the quality of the rubber the quality and weight of the hides. In thepresent instance as above stated it is assumed that hides of average quality and weight are being dealt with.

The celluloid solution of which about 11} gallons is required is composed of celluloid dissolved in acetone in the proportion of 9 oz. celluloid to about 9 pints of solvent.

The amber resin solution of which about of a gallon is required is composed of 3 lbs. amber resin dissolved in 60 oz. benzol and 60 oz. naphtha. Of the gum juniper solution 1:1- pints are employed the said solution being composed of 16 oz. resin to oz. ether.

In actual practice, the final drumming is started, and after the leather has beensubjected to the drumming operation for about 2 to 3 hours, I gradually add the celluloid in acetone. After a further interval of 1:} to 2 hours, I gradually add the amber resin solution. After a further period of 2 to 3 hours, the gum juniper solution is gradually added, and thereafter the process follows the lines of the process set out in the aforementioned specification 27 517 1910.

\Vhile I have described specifically the solvents to be used with the various ingredients, I do not desire to limit myself thereto, as it may be found that there are other solvents which may equally well fulfil the requirements of the present process.

I find that the treatment in the manner just described adds considerably to the water and damp resisting properties of the leather at the same time producing waterproof leather which has a much better grip upon I a damp or greasy surface than leather not so treated.

\Vhere hides such, for example, as calf, goat, sheep or other light skins are treated, the proportions will obviously be considerably reduced.

Claims:

1. A process for waterproofing leather consisting in treating it in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporated a solution of celluloid in acetone together with a solution of amber resin dissolved in benzol and a solution of gum juniper.

2. A process for Waterproofing leather consisting in treating it in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporated a solution of celluloid in acetone together with a solution of amber resin dissolved in benzol and a solution of gum juniper dissolved in ether.

3. In a' process for waterproofing leather consisting of subjecting a rubber-treated leather to treatment in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporatcd a solution of celluloid in acetone together with a solution of amber resin dissolved in benzol and a solution of gum juniper.

I. In a process for waterproofing leather consisting of subjecting a rubber-treated leather to treatment in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporated a solution of celluloid in acetone together with a solution of amber resin dissolved in benzol and a solution of gum juniper dissolved in ether.

5. In a process for waterproofing leather consisting of subjecting a rubbertreated leather to treatment in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporated celluloid in acetone, amber resin dissolved in equal parts of benzol and naphtha, gum juniper dissolved in ether.

(3. A process for waterproofing leather consisting in treating it in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporated a solution of celluloid together with a solution of gum juniper.

T. A process for waterproofingleather consisting in treating it in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporated a solution of celluloid in ace tone, together with a solution of gum juniper.

S. A process for waterproofing leather consisting in treating it in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporated a solution of celluloid in ace tone together with a solution of gum juniper dissolved in ether.

9. A process for waterproofing leather consisting in treating it in a drum containber resin.

10. A process for waterproofing leather consisting in treating it in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporated a solution of celluloid in acetone, together with a solution of gum juniper dissolved in ether and a solution of amber resin dissolved in benzol.

11. A process for Waterproofing leather consisting in treating it in a drum containing an india rubber solution with which is incorporated a solution of celluloid in ace: tone, together with a solution of gum juniper dissolved in ether and a solution of amber resin dissolved in benzol and naphtha.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two undersigned witnesses.

ALEXANDER MoLENNAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. JACK, OSWALD G. J. WEBB. 

